Electric water light



v J/M Aug. 15, 1,944. c LINHARDT, JR v I 2,355,982

ELECTRIC WATER LIGHT Filed Feb. zo, 194s Patented Aug. 15, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,355,982 f Y u ELECTRIC WATER LIGHT Charles Lnhardt, Jr., Baltimore, Md. Applicationrebruary zo, 1943,-seria1N0. 476,580

` l 5 claims. `(ci. .Q -8.3)

This invention is directed to aportable electric light, which While capable of a great variety of uses, is more particularly designed as a light which will oat in'the water, automatically light up when so floating, and provide illumination radiating in all directionsffrom the light over the surface of the water. Y

The primary object of the present invention is the provision of a water lightutilizing conventional and easily renewable batteries, and lconstructed to provide simplicity of assemblage and repair while practically immune to disabling injury under ev-en extraordinary usage.

The improved electric Water light provides for automatic enengization and de-energization of the light bulb, and is so constructed that it will remain lighted in practically any position above the horizontal; the construction avoids the use of any mechanical equipment that can get out of order; and such construction by simple variation in part size can be made to accommodate the strength of the light bulb and any number of batteries, and its unitary construction'is designed to provide easy and convenient renewal connection between the lamp and the batteries. A

The improved 4light-includes a casing I, preferably but not necessarily circular in section, and of greater length than diameter. The casing is diametrically reduced at the open upper end to provide a neck extension 2, exteriorly threaded at 3. The upper end of neck 2 has a narrow inturned ange or rounded portion 4, on which rests a conventional or selected reflector 5.

A transparent dome 6, preferably of plastic material, has an outstanding bottom edge ange l, designed when the parts are assembled to overlie the reflector. An annular collar-like top 8 has an upper flange 9 to overlie and bear on the flange 'I of the dome and a depending interiorly threaded Wall I5 to cooperate with the threaded portion 3 of the neck 2. The lower edge of the dome S may be flared as at II to t beneath the flange of the top 8, a washer being interposed and thejunction appropriately sealed. Thus, by operation of the collar top 8, the dome 6, preferably a unit with the top 8,

insulatedfrom the 'socket I3.

andthe reflector 5 may be secured in sealed relation to the casing and the open upper end of the latter closed and sealed. If preferred, a spring sealing disc lI 2 may be interposed between the reflector andthe rounded edge .4 of the neck 3.

A lamp socket I3 =is secured -to and depends below the reflector 5 lto receive alight bulbfl in position above the reflector, the socket forming one electrical connection to thezlight `filament ofthe bulb. The socket I3 and bulb I6 are preferably vformed for conventional bayonetslot connection. The other, preferably the center electrical connection for the light bulb, is in the form of a rod-like element I5, passing through and insulated from the bottom of the socket 13. An angleV plate'l is secured to the rod I5 and Ihe depending length I1 of the plate I6 is offset vertically from the rod I5 and carries an adjustable connector I8 for a wire connector to lbe later referred to;

A battery guide I9, in the form of a cylindrical body of less diameter and length than that of the casing I, is arranged within and in axial coincidence with the casing, the guide being secured to the bottom of the casing I. A weight '29 is secured to the closed bottom of the casing I and encircles and positions the lower 4end of the battery guide 9. The weight is of course. suicient to maintain the assembled light upright in the water with the dome and light bulb well above the normal surface of the water. The `weight obviously acts when the assembled light is thrown or dropped in the water to cause the assembled unit to assume and maintain an upright light exposing position. The weight'is secured to the bottom of the casing I and to the guide and may have a brass surface plate for better electrical connection.

A bottom inverted U-shaped stop 2l is secured in the lower end of the guide and is designed to support batteries 22 and form with the casing I one side of the battery circuit. Batteries 22 `are arranged to reverse their normal arrangement, as shown, to avoid leakage in use, and the center contact 23 of the lowermost battery is in direct contact with the stop 2|, a contact plate 24 being, if desired, arranged on the stop.

The batteries 22 in sufcient number to energize the light bulb I3 are of less aggregate length than that c-f the guide I9, and in the space above the upper battery and the contact element I8, there is provided a battery follower 25. The follower 25 is of non-conductive material, freely slidable in the guide I9 and provided at each of its upper and lower ends with a metallic plate 26, these plates 26 being electrically connected by a metallic stem 21, such as a wire, passing through the follower. The lower end ofthe follower 25 and the lower plate 26 is separated by a fixed weight 2 secured to the follower to insure free and immediate gravital movement of the follower in either position of the casinlg. The lowermost plate 26, in the operative position of the assembly, will contact with the normally bottom 'contact of the uppermost battery 22. The plates 26 are of less diameter than that of the follower proper to avoid contacting the guide I9. by a flexible electrical conductor 28 to the element I8. The wire 28 is connectedout of axial alignment with the follower by a metallic strip 29, secured electrically to the wire 2'I, and extends laterally of the center of the follower, with` its terminal removably connected to the connector I8. The bulb I4 is in electrical connection with the batteries throughthe socket I3, the reflector 5, casing I and stop 2|,.the other side lof the circuit being through follow contact plate126, wire 21, wire 28, connection I8 and center=con tact rod I5. f

The lilght assembly is normally stored'or' carried in an inverted position, that is, with the dome 6 down. VThe follower 25 thus moves to, ward the bulb I3 and the batteries follow, breaking the bottom contact :at stop 2|; When the assembly is to beused, for example, thrown into the water, the weight quickly arranges the unit with bulb I4 uppermost, while the inherent -buoyance, incident to the sealed casing and trapped air, supports the unit with the dome 6 well above the normal surface of the water. As the casing assumes an operative position, the follow'- v er Y25, incident to its superior weight, moves downwardly, forcing the batteries, whichl of course slide down by their own weight, into intimate and maintained contact with eachother and with the stop 2I. The superiorweight of the follower is -sufficient to maintain this contact under any usually rough condition of the water, thus preventing temporary disconnection of the batteries, due to wave action which would cause an intermittent light instead of the desired constant and steady'light resulting from the The upper plate 26 is connected 1. A portable light for free floating in the water, including a casing, a dome overlying the casing, a reector at the upper end of the casing, removable means for securing the dome, reflector and casing together to seal the interior of the casing, a light socket secured to and depending below the reflector and adapted to receive a light bulb, a battery guide extending longitudinally in and spaced from the casing, a battery contact at the lower end of the guide and having electrical connection with the casing, said guide serving to slidably receive one or more conventional batteries, a weighted battery follower use of the follower.

Obviously,'renewal of batteries or otherparts is easily permissible by' simply removing the collar top 9. The various parts of the assembly may be constructed of any appropriate material,

What is claimed is.

and no limitation is contemplated in this respect.-

i'slidably fitting in said guide, and means carried by said follower to electrically connect one side of the battery circuit to an appropriate contact of the light socket, the other side of the battery circuit being connected to the remaining contact of the lamp socket through the casing and reflector.

2. A construction as defined in claim l, wherein the upper end of the casing has a reduced-diameter extension to receive the dome and reflector and cooperate with the securing means for such parts, said extension being concentric with and of relatively increased diameter with respect to the guide, wh-ereby on removal of such securing means the dome, reflector, vbattery follower and batteries may be freely removed from or replaced in operative position without operation of any securing or fasteninlg means.

3. A construction as defined in claim 1, wherein the battery follower includes an insulating body accurately tting for free sliding in the guide, said follower having a weight at one end.

vfl. A construction as defined in claim 1, wherein the battery follower includes an insulated body accurately ttinlg for free sliding in the guide, said follower having a weight at one end, said weight being of conductive material, a flexible conductor removably fixed to the upper end of the follower, and a conductor extending through the follower and electrically connecting thevWeight and the flexible conductor.

5. A construction as defined in claim l, wherein the casing is formed at the upper end to provide a diametrically-reduced externally-threaded extension, the upper end of the extension being formed to support the reflector and dome, and wherein the securing means includes a threaded element to cooperate with the threaded extension and hold the reflector and dome in position.

CHARLES LINHARDT, JR. 

